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Medical technologist vs cytotechnologist

The differences between medical technologists and cytotechnologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a medical technologist has an average salary of $53,249, which is higher than the $49,566 average annual salary of a cytotechnologist.

The top three skills for a medical technologist include patients, clinical laboratory and ASCP. The most important skills for a cytotechnologist are ASCP, patients, and proficiency testing.

Medical technologist vs cytotechnologist overview

Medical TechnologistCytotechnologist
Yearly salary$53,249$49,566
Hourly rate$25.60$23.83
Growth rate--
Number of jobs116,49539,930
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4444
Years of experience2-

What does a medical technologist do?

A medical technologist's role is to conduct laboratory tests with accuracy and speed. It is their responsibility to gather, prepare, and analyze samples such as blood, tissues, and bodily fluid. The produced results will be crucial to a patient's diagnosis and further treatments. It is also essential for medical technologists to keep a precise record of data and coordinate with fellow team members and physicians to ensure the fast and efficient delivery of results. Furthermore, a medical technologist can choose to work in different establishments such as a hospital, laboratory, or private clinic.

What does a cytotechnologist do?

A Cytotechnologist evaluates specimens on glass slides using microscopes. They analyze fluid and tissue specimens for microscopic cellular abnormalities, such as bacterial and viral infections.

Medical technologist vs cytotechnologist salary

Medical technologists and cytotechnologists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical TechnologistCytotechnologist
Average salary$53,249$49,566
Salary rangeBetween $41,000 And $68,000Between $25,000 And $95,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WAHicksville, NY
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyChildren's Hospital ColoradoOSF HealthCare
Best paying industryHealth Care-

Differences between medical technologist and cytotechnologist education

There are a few differences between a medical technologist and a cytotechnologist in terms of educational background:

Medical TechnologistCytotechnologist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianClinical/Medical Laboratory Science
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Medical technologist vs cytotechnologist demographics

Here are the differences between medical technologists' and cytotechnologists' demographics:

Medical TechnologistCytotechnologist
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 31.5% Female, 68.5%Male, 28.7% Female, 71.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between medical technologist and cytotechnologist duties and responsibilities

Medical technologist example responsibilities.

  • Manage departmental recovery activities after installation of upgrades affecting the LIS affect.
  • Perform medical/laboratory procedures in all departments including microbiology, chemistry, blood bank, hematology, urinalysis, and immunology.
  • Perform laboratory test to corporal fluids applying analysis fields like biochemistry, microbiology, hematology, immunology, urinalysis and blood bank
  • Execute and analyze laboratory test in biochemistry, urinalysis, hematology, microbiology, blood bank and serology department.
  • Direct participation on proficiency testing programs on hematology, chemistry, urinalysis, blood bank, serology, and bacteriology.
  • Work full-time as an evening/night shift generalist rotating through hematology, urinalysis, serology, chemistry, blood bank and microbiology.
  • Show more

Cytotechnologist example responsibilities.

  • Identify, verify and maintain an appropriate stock of control blocks for use in IHC staining.
  • Process approximately 1,200 GYN , 400 non-GYN, and 400 FNA samples per year.
  • Perform routine maintenance and quality control documentation for IHC staining equipment.
  • Process cell samples using microtomy wet tissue trimming and immunohistochemistry staining techniques.
  • Perform testing, training and technical supervision of all cytology and histology procedures.
  • Perform QC slide screening and data entry
  • Show more

Medical technologist vs cytotechnologist skills

Common medical technologist skills
  • Patients, 10%
  • Clinical Laboratory, 8%
  • ASCP, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Microbiology, 4%
Common cytotechnologist skills
  • ASCP, 18%
  • Patients, 13%
  • Proficiency Testing, 5%
  • Test Results, 5%
  • CLIA, 5%
  • Clinical Laboratory, 4%

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